Feature:
Has the most channel inputs of any system of this type.

Quality:
I have never had a bad Yamaha electronics product.

Value:
Speaker mounts are extra, as are speaker stands.

Desirability:
The systems that fold all into one unit, seem a little sexier to me. This is basically two separate speakers, with built in carry handles. The amp mounts into the back of one of the speakers, and the other speaker has storage space for cables. It is compact, but you still need stands and pole mounts.

Sound:
The sound is best in its price range. I like the sound of the $2300 Bose system a little better, but for $600 this is hard to beat.

Support:
i have not had to deal with Yamaha on this item, but in the past when I have called Yamaha looking for manuals on discontinued items, I received quick and courteous responses.

Overall:
Well, I saw the Bose system and though it was exceedingly cool, and I mught check it out. The price scares me. I'll probably stick with the Yamaha, unless the band starts making serious $$$. The number of channels is just adequate for what we have at present. Any expansion would require the use of an external mixer. If it were stolen, I'd probably want the Bose, but would have to buy another Yamaha.

Feature:
not that great of features

Quality:
i havnt had it for long but it seems to be put together good

Value:
it is a great pa for the money i would paid alot more for it

Sound:
has excellence sounds have had it for a few weeks and use it for gigs and it sounds great my friend has a 1000 dollar pa and this sound blows that one away

Support:
havnt needed to call them

Overall:
i will probably use this pa for the next few years

Feature:
The product came with speaker cables and a power cord. I had to spring for a bracket to mount the removable mixer to a mic stand. I'm not complaining. the bracket seems substantial and the mixer unit is light, mounted to a short stand puts it at the right height for a seated performance. Ideally the eq would have a sweepable mid and there would be individual reverb for each channel. This would drive up the price which, as it is, is eminently affordable for what you DO get. One nice touch is that you can place the cabinets on their sides such that they will aim upward such as a monitor or an amp with legs to tilt it backward for better dispertion in an actual room. This, to a degree, negates the need for speaker stands. . . lugging less gear is good.

Quality:
It is well made. Mixers are fragile and I don't think this one would withstand much abuse. When stowed in the recess the control surface of the mixer faces the outside so you have to be careful that it doesn't slide all around the back of a van and accidentally damage the control surface. I've had it for a little over a year now and it's doing just fine. If I were on the road I'd have likely compared the 500 and some other systems, all of which were more powerful, slightly larger, and more expensive. For local gigs this system is just perfect.

Value:
excellent value. at around $500.00 you get really good sound in a compact system.

Desirability:
It's not particularly sexy but it does what it's supposed to and does it well. When I put the little mixer on a mic stand so I can control it from a seated performance position it looks kind of cool.

Sound:
I'm going to be careful to not rate anything too high because of my lack of in depth experience with other gear together with the idea that 10 is perfect and NOTHING'S perfect. I'm a solo acoustic guitarist, original music and covers, mostly instrumental, bluesy new agey mixture. I do not use a pickup but rather an AKG C1000s small diaphragm condenser mic, partially chosen for price partly for sound quality and good off axis rejection. This mic is more sensitive than a dynamic and I can get further away from it and still get a good meaty sound. This system has enough power for any solo guitar act in a small venue. The sound is clear and substantial, sufficient bass and does not sound boxy, honky or otherwise artificial. It actually sounds like a guitar. Many people can't tell because they're so used to the sound of piezo pickups. My criteria for purchase were sound, price, and portability, all of which were about equal in priority. This was the best thing I found. I always ask people in the audience how the sound quality is, whether it's too bassy, too loud, clear or overdriven sounding, and I always get positive feedback on how natural my sound is.

Ease of Use:
I can get set up in 5 - 10 minutes and however long it takes to dial in a sound depending upon the room and my position in it. I don't use effects because I'm looking for a natural acoustic guitar sound although I will dial in a bit of reverb if I feel it's needed. This little system just plain sounds good, and I think that is at least partially due to the fact that I'm not trying to do too much with it. I could likely get this system to work with 2 guitars and vocals but anything more would likely require a larger system. One key is recognizing this. The recessed spaces in the back of the cabs for both the mixer and cords enables me to keep everything together so all I have to do is pick up two cabs and that's it. One reason I chose it is that I don't own a car, I generally hire a car to get to a gig. it's quick, only 2 cabs, a couple of mics and one or two guitars and I'm there.

Support:
Never had to call. I've owned other Yamaha gear before and they make good reliable stuff.

Overall:
I will use this little system around town until it expires which, given Yamaha's track record, should be quite a while.

Feature:
I was suprised that there were no speaker brackets included. Remember to order a pair when you order the rig. Do yourself a favor and order the travel case at the same time. It's well worth the money.

Quality:
It's YAHAMA!!! Does it really get any better?

Value:
See comment under "Quality".

Desirability:
This system definitely falls into the "Good things in small packages" catagory. We perform for a lot of Pros, and they're always amazed that such a small rig can sound sooo good.

Sound:
The sound quality is suprisingly good. If you're looking for Marshall-like sound levels, get real... This is a small system and it will out-play some larger rigs, but it's meant for smaller venues. And in a small to medium room, you can't beat this Yamaha.

Ease of Use:
Simplicity it self. A couple of times we had an impromtu rehearsel at home and I didn't even bother to take the mixer out of the back of the speaker. Just plugged-in, turned-on and go.

Support:
Haven't had to use it.

Overall:
If I wanted to give myself a headache by thinking about it for a really long time, I'm sure I could find a couple of nits to pick. Nothing's perfect, but this piece of equipment comes pretty close.

Feature:
It's got a very good and useful feature list. I'd be hard pressed to ask for anything more.

Quality:
It's a Yamaha. Just doesn't get much better than that.

Value:
This outfit would be a bargin at twice the price. In my own humble opinion, it's the best system you can get without spending a ton.

Desirability:
Super easy to use and the design never fails to get a compliment from the sound techs.

Sound:
Amazing sound quality... Especially when you consider the size of the unit. It easily out plays some of the larger, more expensive systems.

Ease of Use:
Setup and tear down is a snap. I can get the whole system up and running in under 15 minutes.

Support:
Haven't needed to use the support. Probably never will.

Overall:
I couldn't ask for a better PA if I had one designed for me.

Feature:
The 'Reverb' is questionable. And there's no way so send the left and right inputs on the stereo RCA connectors to both speakers. But having separate controls for speaker level, and for the signal going to other powered speakers (in my case, the band's mixer) allows me to adjust my monitor level without affecting the house level.

Value:
The power output, coupled with the number and types of inputs makes this a good value.

Desirability:
I like that the mixer, while in one of the speakers, can be removed so that you can control the mix away from the speakers.

Sound:
Hey, it's a two-way speaker system with 8 inch speakers. But everyone that hears them is greatly surprised by the sound quality coming from them. I use them for monitoring my keyboards when I play. I also use them for small rehearals (vocals and keys only) as well as for PA when performing as a small ensemble.

Feature:
No phantom power for mics. not able to put on speaker stands without buying extra stuff,BIG disappointment.

Quality:
great for small venues and practice times.

Value:
worth the price definitely. Priced just right.

Desirability:
like its ease and size. Again missing the phantom power.

Sound:
Good sound for the price.

Ease of Use:
easy set up and break down.

Support:
haven't had to use it, hopefully don't have to.

Overall:
I'm probably going to send it back for something else. I'm trying to find the best smallest rig for those small room gigs where all you need is a liitle boost for the vocals. Again, I can't believe this thing doesn't have phantom power, and I don't want to bring along something else for that. Not having any way to put on speaker stands without buying extras is the double whammy that will make me return this item.

Feature:
Besides the tiny speakers, the rest of the features are OK. Note that it is just a 1 channel amp. The mixer/amp clamps into one of the speakers, making transportation very easy - you can even leave it there while the system is in use - very cool! The size of the product would certainly be a great feature if it were powerful enough to actually be used. The mixer/amp is a nice little unit, it looks very well built. The knobs are sturdy and it's very easy to use. I did notice that the reverb is a little cheap sounding, but no more so than most other inexpensive pa amps.

Quality:
Feels solid enough - I didn't hang onto it long enough to evaluate the quality much beyond that.

Value:
I know, it's supposed to be a small, compact system. But even the smallest (and/or cheapest) system doesn't have any value if it doesn't have enough power to be of any practical use!

Desirability:
Not really - I was looking for an alternative to lugging around the PA I keep borrowing from a fried. This just doesn't cut it - not by a long shot.

Sound:
Sorry, this system never had a chance with me. When I saw the box they delivered I thought, "that's it?" When I cut the box open and saw the tiny size of one of the speakers, I actually planned to send it straight back. I think it may have been boredom, but something made me actually go through the motions of unpacking it, hooking it up, and giving it a test drive. It's great if you're looking for a nice pair of computer speakers, but it just didn't have enough power to fill even my 12x20 practice space to even 1/2 the volume I was expecting without overdriving. I can't imagine anyone actually using these in any type of a live setting. Ever. My cheapo Peavy amp (barely $150) has at least 2x the volume and more bass out of a single speaker.

Ease of Use:
I did find it very easy to use. Without using the instructions, I was able to plug it in, hook it to my Juno, turn it up, and hear the cheap, overdriven bass-reflex from those impossibly small speakers, and pack it back up again to be sent straight back.

Support:
I didn't call them.

Overall:
Sorry, but I just don't see how it is suitable for live music of any kind.